Diverter



Aug. 22, 1967 WARD ET AL DIVERTER Filed July 28, 1964 Zf. .Z. I

United States Patent Ofifice 3,336,935 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 3,336,935 DIVERTER Irving A. Ward and James H. Bletcher, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors of to the estate of Ralph E. Bletcher, deceased, 3 /s% to James Hamilton Bletcher, trustee, to Pearl White Bletcher, 10% to Hazel Skinner Brondum, 8% to Charlotte Robertson, 1% to Kenneth Robertson, trustee, 2%% to Gary B. Robertson, 8% to James Hamilton Bletcher, 2% to Richard James Bletcher, 8% to E. H. Bucknel], 4%% to Myron Glauber, trustee, 12 /2% to the estate of Mabel Bucknell, deceased, 20 /2% to Marcia B. Liston, and 4 /2% to Daniel G. Liston, trustee Filed July 28, 1964, Ser. No. 385,573 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-119) This invention relates to an improved diverter assembly.

In sink fixtures and similar installations water is either directed through a spout or a hand spray. The diverter of this invention is adapted to be positioned between the water inlet and the two outlets, permitting flow through the spout until the hand spray is opened whereby all water is discharged therethrough.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel vent means communicating said outlets when the water inlet is shut off to prevent any possible back-siphon developing.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a diverter wherein there are provisions against any possible back-siphon to the water supply occurring.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation with portions broken away illustrating the diverter in its environment.

FIGURE 2 is a View taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating flow to the spray outlet.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG- URE 2 illustrating flow to the spout outlet.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating anti-siphon air flow.

The diverter 10 has its lowermost extremity threaded as at 12 to screw into nipple 14 which is further threaded as at 16 to receive a hand spray valve hose (not shown). The diverter at its uppermost extremity projects through a second nipple 18 which also receives the lower end of spout 20. Bonnet 22 screws onto nipple 18 and engages shoulder 24 on spout 20, permitting pivoting of the spout. Appropriate seals 26 and 28 are provided to avoid leakage.

A casing 30 forms a chamber and has a series of inlet windows 32 therein. Water flows through pipes 34 and 36 through the lower extremity of spout 20 and windows 32 into casing chamber 30.

A cap 38 has a central opening 40 and a peripheral flange 42 which fits beneath the inturned flange 43 on the uppermost extremity of casing 30. A frustoconical valve seat 44 has a similar peripheral flange 46 which abuts flange 42 and shoulder 48 in the housing 30.

Beneath valve seat 44 a ring-shaped spacer 50 is secured by welding or the like in housing 30 beneath windows 32. A washer 52 is supported upon shoulder 54 and clamped between said spacer and washer is the periphery of a frustoconical-shaped resilient check valve 56, the uppermost extremity of which may abut the lowermost extremity of valve seat 44.

Washer 52 has a series of openings 53 therethrough to permit flow around valve element 58. The valve element is hollow and has a flared upper extremity 60 adapted to seat on valve seat 44. The tubular lower extremity 62 projects through a suitable opening in washer 52 and carries a piston 64 adjacent the lowermost end. A shoulder 66 is abutted by piston 64 and a support washer 68 is mounted on tubular extremity 62 and held by flared shoulder 70. A resilient washer 72 is positioned between piston 64 and support washer 68. The hollow valve element and tubular extremity 62 thus defi ne an air passage communicating the spout and spray outlets and, as shown, is provided with a check valve for preventing flow from the spray outlet to the spout outlet (FIGS. 2 and 3).

In operation, when the spray valve (not shown) is closed and water is supplied through pipes 34 and 36 to the spout outlet, the device takes the position shown in FIGURE 3. Water pressure inside casing 30 causes the valve element 58 to raise until piston 64 abuts washer 52. Similarly, water pressure flexes check valve 56, permitting flow through valve seat 44 to the spout outlet.

When the spray outlet is opened, the device takes the position shown in FIGURE 2. Water pressure on piston 64 moves valve element 58 downwardly until same seats on valve seat 44. Washer 72 returns to its at rest position against support washer 68 and flow is through windows 32 by check valve 56 through openings 53 around washer 72 and through. nipple 12 to the spray outlet.

When the water supply through pipes 34 and 36 is shut oil, the device assumes the position of FIGURE 4. Check valve 56 assumes a position wherein same abuts valve seat 44, preventing development of a back-siphon at this point. Valve element 60 lowers until it rests on valve seat 44. The spray outlet is: vented through hollow valve member 58 to the spout outlet to prevent any development of a back-siphon to the water supply occurring.

While what hereinbefore has been described as the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications may be restored to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A diverter unit for afixture having one inlet and two outlets comprising: a casing, an inlet to said casing, a valve between said inlet and a first outlet and having a seat fixed within said casing and facing said first outlet, a movable valve element between said valve seat and said first outlet, said valve element having an extension thereon projecting through said valve seat, a piston on said extension on the other side of said valve seat and between said inlet and the second outlet, means forming an air passage through said valve element and extension and communicating said first and second outlet, and check valve means in said air passage for preventing flow from said second to said first outlet.

2. A diverter unit as defined in claim 1 including check valve means adjacent said inlet for preventing reverse flow outwardly thereof.

3. A diverter unit as defined in claim 1 including a resilient check valve means on said piston for preventing reverse flow from said second outlet to said inlet.

4. A diverter unit as defined in claim 1 including resilient check valve means between said valve seat and said inlet for preventing reverse flow from said first outlet to said inlet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,769,454 11/1956 Bletcher 137-119 2,867,230 1/1959 Bletcher 137-119 3,232,307 2/1966 Bucknell 137-119 3,265,082 8/1966 Perlman 137-119 WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. W. H. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner.

Disclaimer 3,336,935.Im ing A. Ward and James H. Bleteher, Los Angeles, Calif. DI-

VERTER. Patent dated Aug. 22, 1967. Disclaimer filed Feb. 23, 1976, by the assignee, Pearl White Bletcher, part interest. Hereby enters this disclaimer to her entire interest in all claims of said patent.

[Oyficz'al Gazette June 1, 1.976.] 

1. A DIVERTER UNIT FOR A FIXTURE HAVING ONE INLET AND TWO OUTLETS COMPRISING: A CASING, AN INLET TO SAID CASING, A VALVE BETWEEN SAID INLET AND A FIRST OUTLET AND HAVING A SEAT FIXED WITHIN SAID CASING AND FACING SAID FIRST OUTLET, A MOVABLE VALVE ELEMENT BETWEEN SAID VALVE SEAT AND SAID FIRST OUTLET, SAID VALVE ELEMENT HAVING AN EXTENSION THEREON PROJECTING THROUGH SAID VALVE SEAT, A PISTON ON SAID EXTENSION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID VALVE SEAT AND BETWEEN SAID INLET AND THE SECOND OUTLET, MEANS FORMING AN AIR PASSAGE THROUGH SAID VALVE ELEMENT AND EXTENSION AND COMMUNICATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTLET, AND CHECK VALVE MEANS IN SAID AIR PASSAGE FOR PREVENTING FLOW FROM SAID SECOND TO SAID FIRST OUTLET. 